John Urquhart (sheriff)
{{short description|American sheriff}}
{{Infobox officeholder
| name = John Urquhart
| image = John Urquhart 01.jpg
| caption = John Urquhart, 2014
| office = 33rd King County Sheriff
| term_start = November 28, 2012
| term_end = January 2, 2018
| predecessor = Steve Strachan
| successor = Mitzi Johanknecht
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1947|11|10}}
| birth_place = Seattle, Washington, USA
| residence = Mercer Island, Washington
| spouse = Shelley
| children = 2
| alma_mater = University of Washington
| party = Democratic
| occupation = Law Enforcement Officer
}}
John W. Urquhart (born November 10, 1947) was the 33rd sheriff of King County, Washington and a Democrat.{{cite web|last=Mcnerthne |first=Casey |url=http://www.seattlepi.com/local/article/John-Urquhart-becomes-King-County-Sheriff-4074393.php |title=John Urquhart becomes King County sheriff |publisher=seattlepi.com |date=2012-11-28 |accessdate=2013-07-15}} He served as the county's chief law enforcement official and oversaw the more than 1000 employees of the King County Sheriff's Office.{{cite web |url=http://www.kingcounty.gov/safety/sheriff/About/OrgChart.aspx |title=Organization |publisher=Kingcounty.gov |date=2013-03-28 |accessdate=2013-07-15 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20130126164748/http://kingcounty.gov/safety/sheriff/About/OrgChart.aspx |archivedate=2013-01-26 }}
Early life
Urquhart grew up in Seattle, Washington. He attended Ingraham High School, graduating in 1967 as class president. He then attended the University of Washington, graduating with a Bachelor's degree in business in 1971.{{cite web |url=http://c3.thevoterguide.org/v/tacoma12/race-detail.do?id=10638906 |title=King County Sheriff - 2012 Voter Guide |publisher=C3.thevoterguide.org |date= |accessdate=2013-07-15 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121101005456/http://c3.thevoterguide.org/v/tacoma12/race-detail.do?id=10638906 |archive-date=2012-11-01 |url-status=dead }} He owned an electrical construction materials business in Bellevue, which he sold in 1988.
Career
Urquhart's first job in law enforcement was as a Reserve Deputy Sheriff for the Island County Sheriff's Department, serving from 1975 to 1980.{{cite web|last=Sullivan |first=Jennifer |url=http://seattletimes.com/html/localnews/2019426294_sheriffsrace14m.html |title=King County Sheriff's race: the new man vs. the longtime insider | Local News |publisher=The Seattle Times |date= |accessdate=2013-07-15}} He then joined the King County Sheriff's Office as a Reserve Deputy Sheriff in 1980, eventually becoming in a full-time Deputy Sheriff in 1988.{{cite web|last=Jean |first=Sara |url=http://seattletimes.com/html/localnews/2016170411_urquhart11m.html |title=Local News | Sheriff's spokesman is quitting department after 23 years | Seattle Times Newspaper |publisher=Seattletimes.com |date=2011-09-10 |accessdate=2013-07-15}} He was voted officer of the year for the Burien precinct in 1991. He was overall officer of the year in 1992.
During his 24-year career with the department, he served in a number of roles including: field training officer, narcotics detective, sergeant, administrative aide to the sheriff, and spokesman.{{cite web|last=Watson |first=Kendall |url=http://mercerisland.patch.com/groups/politics-and-elections/p/meet-john-urquhart-candidate-for-king-county-sheriff |title=Meet John Urquhart, Candidate for King County Sheriff - Government - Mercer Island, WA Patch |publisher=Mercerisland.patch.com |date=2012-10-24 |accessdate=2013-07-15}} He retired in February 2012 and became president of the S.H.E.R.I.F.F. Fund, a non-profit organization.
In late 2012, Urquhart decided to enter the race for King County Sheriff, a non-partisan elected office. He was elected as King County Sheriff in November 2012, defeating Republican Steve Strachan with 56 percent of the vote.{{cite web|url=http://www.kuow.org/post/john-urquhart-sworn-today-new-king-county-sheriff |title=John Urquhart Sworn In Today As New King County Sheriff | KUOW News and Information |publisher=Kuow.org |date=2012-11-28 |accessdate=2013-07-15}}{{cite web |date= |title=Interview: John Urquhart Vows that he’ll ‘Do the Right Thing as the Sheriff’ |url=http://b-townblog.com/2013/02/20/interview-john-urquhart-vows-that-hell-do-the-right-thing-as-the-sheriff/ |accessdate=2013-07-15 |publisher=B-townblog.com}} He immediately hired Anne Kirkpatrick, chief of the Spokane Police Department, as his second in command.
In 2016, a lawsuit was filed against Urquhart, alleging that he had raped a former sheriff's deputy in 2002.{{cite news |last=Kamb |first=Lewis |date=December 22, 2016 |title=King County Sheriff Urquhart told investigators to ignore woman's claim he raped her, documents say |url=https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/king-county-sheriff-urquhart-told-investigators-to-ignore-womans-claim-he-raped-her-documents-say/ |work=The Seattle Times |accessdate=November 9, 2017}} Another former deputy accused Urquhart of groping him; the deputy received $160,000 in an unusual settlement that was not approved by the King County Executive's office. Some old class mates of his also stepped forward to share stories of harassment they experienced at the hands of Urquhart.{{cite news |last=Kamb |first=Lewis |date=November 2, 2017 |title=Sheriff John Urquhart sues ex-deputy over groping allegation |url=https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/politics/sheriff-john-urquhart-sues-ex-deputy-over-groping-allegation/ |work=The Seattle Times}}
Urquhart ran for reelection as King County Sheriff in 2017 and was defeated by challenger Mitzi Johanknecht, a major from the Southwest Precinct.{{cite news|last=Miletich|first=Steve|title=Mitzi Johanknecht unseats John Urquhart as King County sheriff.
|newspaper=Seattle Times|url=https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/politics/mitzi-johanknecht-unseats-john-urquhart-as-king-county-sheriff/
|accessdate=9 November 2017}}
Personal life
Uruqhart's wife is Shelley. They have two children.
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- http://johnforsheriff.com/johns-biography/ Campaign Website
{{s-start}}
{{s-off}}
{{s-bef|before=Steve Strachan}}
{{s-ttl|title=King County Sheriff|years=2012–2018}}
{{s-aft|after=Mitzi Johanknecht}}
{{s-end}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Urquhart, John}}
Category:Washington (state) sheriffs
Category:University of Washington Foster School of Business alumni